NFL
By: Ty Reeves
After a long, grueling summer, it is the night before Christmas once again for Premier League fans around the world. It’s time for another season of goals, tackles; wins, losses, and of course trophies. Preseason is over, the summer transfer window is coming, and the race to become champions are on. With new clubs with new faces, and old faces at new clubs, this season has the potential to be one of the best we’ve seen in a while. Reigning champions Manchester City, look to keep hold to their spot at the top of the league, while Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham have all made drastic changes to their squads in order to challenge for the league. Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest all achieved promotion from the Championship and will look to stay in English football’s top flight.
Whose Contending?
Liverpool
Forward Sadio Mane left Liverpool this summer to join German Giants Bayern Munich for up to $35 million. Mane was a consistent contributor for the Reds during his time at Anfield. In his last season under Jurgen Klopp, he contributed 21 goals in all competitions. So the question for Liverpool is, how do you replace consistency. Well with young talent is a good answer.
Go Inside Training as the Reds get set for our Premier League opener this weekend 📽
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 4, 2022
With Mane moving on, that gives more of a role for Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. Jota has already played at the high level for Liverpool, scoring 15 goals in 35 EPL games. Diaz joined Liverpool during the January transfer window and contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in 13 games. So with a full season ahead of him, the expectations of the Colombian will be raised, especially with more minutes expected.
Along with Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino both left the club this summer. Klopp made it a key point for the team in the transfer window to acquire more talent up front. Insert Darwin Núñez. The young Uruguayan forward joined Liverpool from Portuguese side Benfica for $85 million. His last season at Benfica he scored 32 goals in all competitions. So for fans, it’s a matter of time to see if he is worth the price tag. Combining the new editions with some old faces and arguably the best player in the world in Mo Salah, the Reds will look to knock Manchester City off the mountain top and retake the title of Premier League Champions.
Arsenal
Over the past three seasons under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has shown signs of improvement. But consistency has always been their achilles heel. Now, with shifting culture and playing style this could be the best season we’ve seen from an Arsenal team in a long time.
Arsenal’s main issue was surrounding the number nine position. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club in January to join Barcelona after reports of a fall out between him and Arteta. Alex Lacazette left the club this summer to return to Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon after not renewing his contract with the club. Sticking with their plan of recruiting young players, the Gunners added Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. Since joining the squad this summer he has had an extreme impact. In their last preseason match against Sevilla, Jesus netted his first hattrick for the club. If he continues this form throughout the season, he could push his way into the golden boot conversation.
Tomorrow.#CRYARS pic.twitter.com/zSe471BnAC
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 4, 2022
Young star William Saliba returned from loan and has been very impressive in preseason and will add a defensive boost and quality for the Gunners. To add to that quality, Arsenal also brought in Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City to provide depth at the left-back position. With these two and other additions, Arsenal look primed for the best season in recent years.
Tottenham
Antonio Conte has gone out and fielded a team that he feels can play his preferred 3-4-3 formation. Spurs went out and brought in Yves Bissouma from Brighton to add midfield depth and different physical presence next to Hojbjerg.
A position that spurs needed to improve on was central defenders. Spurs landed Clément Lenglet from Barcelona on loan. They also signed Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan to be used as a wingback. But, the biggest move that Tottenham made was signing Brazilian winger Richarlison from Everton. Last season he added 10 goals for an Everton side that was almost relegated. The key for Richarlison is the diversity he brings. He can play on the wing or as a number nine. Wherever he is played, he will be tasked with supporting the focal part of the Tottenham attack in Son and Kane.
These guys 💙 pic.twitter.com/Ofhs0BdjY1
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 4, 2022
Conte is a proven winner. Winning the Premier League with Chelsea. Winning Serie A most recently with Inter Milan. He will look to bring some sort of silverware to a team who hasn’t won a trophy since 2008. With a proven manager, and a revamped squad, will this be the season we finally see Spurs exceed expectations? We’ll have to wait and see.
Don’t forget the rest
Of course there’s plenty of others that are more than capable of contending for league supremacy. Manchester United with new manager Erik Ten Hag, and Cristiano Ronaldo set to stay at Old Trafford, the Red Devils could take the league by storm and rise back to the top.
Even with the loss of Lukaku and missing out on many targets in the market, Chelsea still has a team that on paper should challenge for the league. With a midfield that consists of young talent with Mount and Gallagher, and the additions of Sterling and Koulibaly they could compete to win a league title. The question still remains, where are the goals going to come from for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Reigning Champs
Regardless of the additions other clubs have made, Manchester City still look to be the most impressive squad from head to toe. It’s hard to overlook the signing of one of the most exciting young stars in the world with Erling Haaland joining from Borussia Dortmund. They also added Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United who will be a direct plug in for Fernandinho.
Pep, let players leave that have been a key part of his squads for several seasons that have contributed to Manchester City’s success. Even with the success they have had domestically, that covenant Champions League title has slipped through their hands. With a talented team with some of the best players in the world, will City finally earn the title of Champions of Europe. Or will the success stop in England.
Not long now! @premierleague 🔜#ManCity pic.twitter.com/Gho8H78CPJ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 4, 2022
This Premier League season has the potential to be one of the closest title races in past years. Friday is here, let the season begin.
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